Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt

by Patrick Q. Mason

For all its beneficial advances, our secular age has also weakened some people s ties to religious belief and affiliation. Latter-day Saints have not been immune to this trend. In recent years, many faithful Church members have encountered challenging aspects of Church history, belief, or practice. Feeling isolated, alienated, or misled, some struggle to stay. Some simply leave. Many search for a reliable and faithful place to work through their questions. The abundance of information online can make them feel frustrated. Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt offers people who struggle with questions and people who love those who struggle practical ways to stay planted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rather than attempting to answer every possible question or doubt, Planted presents an empathetic, practical, and candid dialog about the relationship of doubt and faith.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Lds, Church, Faith, Spirituality, Book Club

219 pages, Paperback

Published December 28, 2015

Reviews

[Corey Wozniak · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this book has already been written by the Givenses, and with much more grace. If you've read God Who Weeps or Crucible of Doubt, or, for that matter, anything by Eugene England or Richard Bushman, you're not going to find much that's new or surprising. Most of his arguments feel recycled wholesale from these other sources.

The book's biggest contribution is the bridge-building it does between faithful and doubting persons; Mason is an articulate ambassador encouraging both parties to stop demonizing or caricaturing the other:

"People can have genuine reasons for opting out of the church without being dissolute sinners. Disbelievers can be good, solid people who love their spouse and children and live ethical, productive, meaningful lives. At the same time, disbelievers must understand that educated, informed, and sincere people can believe in the reality of Joseph Smith's revelations, the truth of the Book of Mormon, and the divine inspiration behind the church. They are not covering up secret doubts nor are they the victims I false consciousness when they bear testimony. They are informed people who genuinely believe in and belong to the church. I am one of them" (176).

Another interesting contribution: he challenges Terryl Givens' stance that faith is a choice. He brings up, for example, that there seems to be a biological component that predisposes some to faith and not others.

Although I was personally underwhelmed, I'm grateful to Mason for writing the book-- it will surely be a blessing to Mormonism.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The following is a copy of my review originally published here.

"We live in an age of doubt, but we need not be overcome. When we are planted in the Savior we can be nourished as much by our questions as by the answers."

"Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt" is written by Patrick Mason and is a joint venture between the Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship and Deseret Book. Patrick Mason is the Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate College and a Mormon historian.

When I first saw this was being released I kind of rolled my eyes. "Great," I thought, "another book that will describe what I've been through (a la The Crucible of Doubt: Reflections On the Quest for Faith) that ultimately preaches to the choir." By this I mean that when I read Crucible of Doubt, it was an amazing experience to have my own thoughts and processes validated by the likes of the Givens' with their beautiful prose, but ultimately I already had the basics down. I had found a way to stay. It was more a descriptor of my last three years than a path forward. As such it was beautiful and validating, but absolutely no use in how to manage my "now" in my ward family or real-family (in which I have a boundary that I refuse to discuss my faith because of the lack of mutual respect and understanding).

Enter "Planted." Ultimately, I think, this is not a book for the questioners/doubters although it is helpful. I believe herein lies it's strength. As I was reading I tweeted the following:

FYI I think another good title for "Planted" from @MI_BYU could be "How to Be A Mormon Feminist in Rexburg & Not Strangle Your Neighbor"— @_Kristine_A

Another alternate title to #Planted f/@MI_BYU could be: "Bishops, Here's How to Minister to People Who Have Questions & Help Them Stay"— @_Kristine_A

Another alternate title to #Planted by @patrickqmason "Thinking Like A(n) Historian Solves Most of Your Problems" #subtweet #CESletter— @_Kristine_A

It covers a lot of the same ground as Crucible of Doubt, but I feel Bro. Mason as mostly addressing those who encounter and interact with those who doubt and question. He is someone who has always believed and never questioned, and he speaks their language. This is a book for the parent, the bishop, or the visiting teacher who would like to connect and help. Typically the response I have received to my own questions varies along the spectrum of "You must not be praying/reading scriptures, you need to do that more" or "Doubt your doubts because they destroy faith" and he quite poignantly describes why these responses not only don't work, but push us farther away. Basically the book is a pattern on how to faithfully have difficult discussions; how to be faithful and true and also validate the questions and the difficult places others find themselves in (ie when it Hurts to Go to Church). The chapter on prophetic infallibility is the closest thing to a master class on how to have the discussion that I've ever seen. Not only is it a pattern for non-questioners, but it's a useful example for me to use of how to frame and provide context to my questions and doubts in a way that doesn't make people uncomfortable.

For example, one principle that particularly struck me was his discussion of how the atonement can apply to imperfect leaders, groups of people, and organizations. (pp 114, 122) Not only does it rightly point out that I am neither the judge, jury, nor executioner of our leaders - but that if I am to expect and ask for forgiveness I MUST give forgiveness to others who have caused me pain. I'm commanded to forgive everyone. This includes the Church. He used the example of only recently has the LDS Church taken responsibility and apologized for its part in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and the reconciliation and peace that has come individually and institutionally because of it.

This reminded me of meeting Darius Gray this summer at the Black, White, and Mormon conference at University of Utah. How when he told his story of mistreatment at BYU and at the hands of his fellow saints he was able to stay in the Church despite the pain it caused. And he admitted frankly that not all of the injuries and pains we receive in this life will ever be fully healed, but you have to give the organization/people/leaders space and time to use the atonement and turn to God and seek forgiveness and reconciliation. I can imagine the only way to stay in the face of such hurt and pain is to let it go, knowing it may not heal and won't stop the hurt; but let God be the one to exact the judgment.

This is the principle that shook me when reading this book: week after week I've brought my broken heart to sacrament meeting, sometimes it has been battered and bruised, and I've offered it up to God. I've been rededicating my life and asking for forgiveness, but absent from my sacrament worship was *my* act of forgivING. The women at church who've accused me of being "tares ripe for destruction" or "preaching false doctrine"? I'd been holding on to those hurts, unforgiving. And even though I'm not the judge I haven't been exactly easy on the Church as a whole in light of the LGBTQ+ policy. It's been difficult and painful for me just to show up. But....how does it change things if I focus on staying planted in Christ, and not letting one of the damaged branches get in the way?

It. Changes. Everything.

And after partaking of the sacrament, I bore my testimony of this experience. I was able to frame it and give it context that was appropriate in tone and testimony. It was about a year ago that I tried The Givens Test and bore my testimony in all it's messy glory. This time, the response was black and white. Last year crowds of people got up to dispute my assertion that I don't know if I would ever "KNOW." This year a few people remarked in their own testimonies how they'd never thought of the atonement working for groups of people or organizations but it seemed like a true principle to them.

After church several parents with adult children who "have questions" approached me and asked me more about "that Planted book I talked about." As I practiced my newly acquired "difficult discussion" skills, I found peace and reconciliation. One father told me that it was to the point he could no longer discuss the Church with his son, it was too hard. I told him he needs this book, because I know if my parents could speak to me and discuss issues in the pattern Patrick Mason provides, we would come together instead of being pushed apart. These issues are common and are touching all of our communities. Will we allow them to push us apart, or will we literally act out the atonement and come together (at-one) in love? I think Patrick Mason is right, this is one of the greatest challenges of our people we have today. Will we be ruled by our fear, or will we respond with faith?

I hope this is a resource that is used. Just as I have several copies of Women at Church which I lend out with evangelical-like zeal, so I plan to do the same with planted. Word of advice, if you ever meet with a church leader about any of your questions? Bring this book and make it part of the discussion. Save yourself some heartache, and hopefully your calling and your temple recommend.

-Have you found anything particularly useful when discussing your questions (if you have them) with others?
-If you read this, be prepared with a highlighter, my whole book has markings on almost every single page.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best part of this book is simply the tone that author uses. I have respect for the Terry and Fiona Givens, but the tone in their books feels both patronizing and condescending to me. On the other hand, I felt like I was almost having a conversation about Mormonism with Patrick Mason, and that he truly understood my frustrations. I love his insights, his clarity, and most of all his humor. I didn't come away with any clear-cut answers, but I felt more hope about the LDS church and my place in it than I have in years.

[Larry Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of this book was refreshing because the author acknowledged that mormonism has some controversial historical, doctrinal, and cultural issues that have been covered up, denied and ignored. This has caused many members to either leave or to feel out of place for questioning particular subjects.
Next he becomes apologetic for some of these issues and the last third of the book addresses reasons for members to remain in the church in spite of problems created by church leaders and culture, and even suggests that these very problems can become strengths.

One of his apologetics involves the former "blacks and the priesthood" doctrine. He shows that the policy was originated with Brigham Young and kept in effect for a 126 years by subsequent church prophets and yet it was not necessarily from God. He then suggests that if the members recognize the fallibility and humanness of church leaders and practice patience, faith, trust and forgiveness they will become closer to Christ. This seems to be his antidote for the mishandling of the blacks and the priesthood issue. These particular virtues have ample opportunities for development in day to day life. It seems to me he uses them to divert attention from the real problem here which is that God's "one and only true church on the earth" which has sole power to administer the ordinances and rites necessary to save one's soul was allowed to bungle it so badly. For over five generations a whole race of people were denied essential requirements for eternal life because of the true church. To me this God seems more like one of the capricious greek gods, including a big "oops" after the fact, rather than the God which christians claim to be omniscient and omnipotent. Another explanation could be that the claims to be God's divine church are bogus. This would eliminate all the mental maneuvering needed to make sense of this.

In the last section he extols the virtues and admits the problems of the communityness of mormonism. As an argument for staying in the church in spite of controversial questions, he cites himself and other prominent mormons as saying the church has made them what they are. No doubt, it has. But this is hardly unique to mormonism since there would be no problem finding countless others attributing their religion/community/organization for making them what they are.
Mormonism has lots of benefits, especially their social network, but the claim to be "the one and only true church" raises a very high standard. The lds apologetics here and elsewhere seldom meet that standard and end up sounding lame to those outside the church and to those members who dare entertain the thought that maybe the divine claim is a stretch.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book to speed through (as I may have had to do to finish it before the end of the year). Either the language was dense or I am dumb, but still well worth the time it took to read and internalize it.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the Given's "Crucible of Doubt," Planted offers an olive branch to those who doubt to varying degrees and have a hard time staying in church. It is a book that would be a great guide to a new bishop or and old bishop for that matter. It gives insight to how non-mainstream-fully-believing-church-members think and it shows their position as a legitimate one, but it is also affirming of belief, since it is written by a believing scholar. It would be a powerful tool used to promote dialogue between 'camps' or 'schools of thought.' The book does not solve any problems but it shows that being empathetic and loving as a church leader or believing member is possible even to those who think and believe differently, and this should be the aim of those who claim to be Christian anyway.

[Beth Given · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Perhaps the most important thing we can do in the face of our current challenges is to make the church a more welcoming place for those who struggle, creating the conditions in which they can feel comfortable while they work through questions and doubts in the midst of the body of Christ rather than feeling excluded from it. A more embracing Mormonism may thus be the most important factor in helping people more fully embrace Mormonism."

After reading (and loving!) Patrick Mason's latest book (Restoration), I wanted to seek out this book he wrote a few years ago.

This seems like a particularly helpful book for those questioning their belief in the Church ... or for those who know someone who is questioning their belief in the Church, or someone who may potentially be in a congregation with someone who is questioning their belief in the Church. This is a book that will help us create a culture of belonging in our congregations.

I really loved the discussion on how doubt is not a character flaw. After she died, Mother Teresa's writings revealed her insecurities and doubts; if one of the greatest examples of Christian charity felt silence from heaven, perhaps we can be patient with others and with ourselves when we struggle with faith.

I also liked how he described learning about problematic pieces of church history. It might be like explorers searching for a unicorn but instead finding a rhinoceros: while the rhino isn't as majestic as a unicorn, it has the benefit of being real. Our history may not be as palatable, but wouldn't we rather know what really happened? (As someone who is extremely practical and also a lover of the complexity of history, I really resonated with that analogy!)

I also appreciated the reminder that, in spite of all the wonderful appendages of the gospel, we should be nourished from the Vine. Christ is at the center of our testimonies and it is through Him that we are saved. Problems with church history or culture need not destroy our relationship with Jesus.

Ultimately I preferred Patrick Mason's book Restoration over this one, but only barely. This was still such a good book.

A few more quotes I highlighted:

"Right now a number of church members are either questioning their place in the church or leaving it altogether because they feel, in the words of Latter-day Saint historian Richard Bushman, either “switched off” or “squeezed out.”"

"Most people don’t really want to be solved. They want to be heard, valued, and as much as possible understood."

"For most people, faith is work, and oftentimes it is hard work."

"There are ways we can talk faithfully, constructively, and honestly about difficult things, even when our knowledge is imperfect. We can live with loose ends. We can have hard conversations."

"Substantial spiritual doubt will not and need not be experienced by everyone; it is not a necessary stop on the personal path to God. But its presence among us actually does important things for us, both as individuals and as a church community. Doubt dislocates us from our comfortable places. It asks hard questions of us and forces us to deal with hard issues. It refuses to let us get spiritually sluggish with the lazy assumption that “All is well in Zion” (2 Nephi 28:21)."

"We sometimes treat doubt as a character flaw rather than simply a part of many people’s struggle to live with belief in a secular age."

"For many, the struggle with doubt is the very definition of their journey of belief."

"We rightfully rejoice when the voice of God comes to us, recognizing that every parcel of divine revelation is an utterly precious grace. At the same time we appreciate that his hiddenness does not constitute abandonment or even necessarily a rebuke."

"Perhaps the first step toward developing empathy for others is learning to resist using our own personal experiences as the ultimate measuring stick to judge other people."

"Discipleship also calls upon us to go beyond our own experience to recognize the legitimacy and value of others’ lives, however different they are from our own."

"After reading the Old Testament, we should not be particularly surprised that our modern-day Zion has snares, stumbling blocks, and offenses. I am, and should be, troubled anytime I see scandals in Zion, just as many of the events recorded in the Old Testament are deeply troubling to me. But scripture reminds me not to be surprised by Zion’s failings and to believe that God can redeem his people in spite of their many missteps."

"Indeed, if we know anything in this church, it’s that God has more to teach us, so long as we don’t plug our ears and think we already know it all."

"One of the primary reasons why some members of the church have become disenchanted, disappointed, or even angry in recent years is because they were never taught to expect skeletons in the closet of church history and so are shocked when they find them. If their surprise (or yours) reveals a certain naïveté, we must charitably remember that it is a learned naïveté."

"Grown-up questions require grown-up answers. The Primary answers—read, pray, go to church, be good—never cease being important, even foundational. But life becomes more complicated and morally complex as we grow up, so it is essential for our religion to mature with us."

"Given that so many people are struggling with their membership in the church because of some of these issues, finding better ways to think and talk about the issues is an act of compassion in the original sense of the word—“to suffer with.” It is an act of Christian love to go to places, whether geographic or intellectual, that we might otherwise prefer not to visit so that we can “mourn with those that mourn” and “comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:9)."

"Become comfortable with complexity and nuance. We know that in our present lives things are rarely black-and-white, and so we expect the same of the past."

"How often has the Holy Spirit tried to tell us something we needed to know but couldn’t get past the massive iron gate of what we thought we already knew?"

"God’s prophets never set themselves up as the light but rather stand on the mountain pointing people to the true Light."

"The Lord is not casual about sin, but he seems far more ready to pardon us than we sometimes are."

"It seems that God’s position on prophetic fallibility is stunningly, perhaps scandalously, uncomplicated: it exists. It can and should be forgiven, and he, not we, will decide whether sufficient confession and repentance has occurred."

"To forgive is not to be willfully ignorant in the face of human fallenness; it is rather to stare sin in the eye and declare that it will not triumph, no matter the suffering it has caused. The greater the sin, the more difficult the forgiveness. It does not come easily, and it rarely comes immediately. The scars may never heal; as far as we know, Jesus’s still haven’t."

"We do not place our ultimate hope in prophets and priesthood leaders. We do not place our ultimate hope in the church. We place our ultimate hope in Christ and his atonement."

"Christ is not only the Redeemer of Israel and redeemer of our souls but also the redeemer of history. The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything. It extends the timeline for the achievement of justice, righteousness, and peace, allowing for the arc to stretch well beyond any person’s mortal sojourn."

"We must constantly remember, in England’s wise words, that “the Church is not a place to go for comfort, to get our own prejudices validated, but a place to comfort others, even to be afflicted by them.” The path of ease, recognition, and casual sameness is not the way of the cross Christ calls us to bear."

"The standard of the church’s divinity is not its perfection but its ability to serve as a schoolmaster for gods in embryo. The things that may be most frustrating and perplexing may be the very means by which God is teaching us what it’s like to be him."

"It might help to refrain from thinking of church life as a massive to-do list that one can never exhaust. Rather, it might be that the church’s many meetings, programs, and classes form a rich inventory of possibilities. It falls to every individual, every family, to wisely choose the “better part” (Luke 10:42 NRSV)—that combination of the most pressing priorities for their particular time, place, and situation."

"Spiritual survival ... depends on seeing each day as a set of possibilities for doing good, not an endless set of ways to fall short.

"Make a place for yourself. In Micah’s vision of the millennial era of peace, he saw that people “shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid” (Micah 4:4 NRSV). We don’t have to go off and start our own churches, but we do have to find our own vine and fig tree to rest under within the church."

"Those of us who are American don’t always like what our elected leaders do in Washington, but not many of us choose to leave the country. We don’t always like how our family members act, but we are not going to disown them. We don’t always like our coworkers, but we don’t usually quit our jobs over that. We don’t always like all our teachers or what they teach us, but we typically stay in school until we earn our diploma. In short, we regularly recognize the limitations and flaws in the many institutions of which we are a part, but except in the case of egregious abuses we normally stay and try to make things better rather than washing our hands and walking away. While acknowledging that our church community is far from perfect, I for one have my doubts about whether there is anything much better, not only in terms of doctrinal truth and priesthood authority but also in terms of providing personal purpose, meaning, and opportunities to develop Christlike character."

"Can we as individuals and a church community deal constructively with the inevitable questions and problems we encounter, or will we see them only as existential threats? Will we reduce those who doubt to the status of lost souls who must correct their views in order for us to maintain association with them, or will we treat them as family members whom we love and care for—and maybe even learn from?"

"My plea to those who are struggling in the church and feel adrift is simple: Find some kind of tether that works for you. Find something or someone in the church to connect to, even while everything else seems tenuous. Find a way to stay in the orbit of the church as it orbits around the Son. For those who already feel their feet are planted on solid ground, my plea is also simple: Be the type of friend, family member, or fellow church member who provides the safe connection that we all so desperately need."

"A full-time toothy smile is not requisite for discipleship; Jesus was surely not grinning in the garden or on the cross."

"In order to fulfill its mission to invite all to come unto Christ, our meetings must be a place where all people feel welcome: smokers and nonsmokers, baptized and unbaptized, women and men, the elderly and babes in arms, blacks and whites and Hispanics and Asians and Pacific Islanders and Native Americans and Arabs (and everyone else), welfare recipients and billionaires, single and married and divorced and widowed, childless and child-blessed, soldiers and peace activists, capitalists and socialists, believers and doubters, straight and gay, every-weekers and once-a-yearers, feminists and nonfeminists, intellectuals and the illiterate, groomed and unkempt, those in suits or jeans and those in dresses or pants, conservatives and liberals, publicans and Pharisees. This inclusiveness is not by way of contemporary political correctness; it is by way of commandment."

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit that this is my first book on doubt and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Maybe there are better ones out there. The novelty of discussing this subject that has been on my mind was enough to boost this to a five star read. If I wasn't learning something, I had personal beliefs and feelings confirmed that have never been confirmed before.

I highly recommend this to every member of the church. This book is particularly helpful for doubters who want to stay in the church or to full-fledged believers who want to understand the doubters.

This review is going to be full of quotes. There was so much that I loved and I actually stayed up too late reading a few nights.

Mason starts off explaining that doubt isn't necessarily something a person chooses or something to be ashamed of. I LOVE this! He talks about how the "I know" culture in our church can be tricky for the doubters.

"My own experience is that while some people choose belief from a range of possible options, and other people choose skepticism from the same menu, there are many people for whom faith or doubt appear more as an unearned inheritance than a personal choice. To be sure, as moral agents we decide what to do with the various givens in our life--but we don't get to choose our givens."

I loved what Mason said about church history. I think this book would be particularly helpful for those who struggle with church history. The sections on church history were some of the strongest. He doesn't get into nitty gritty details but he does provide pointers on how to look at history. As I've studied church history, I'm amazed by how much interpretation of facts comes into play. Depending on the viewpoint, one fact verifies the church is true or proves it's falsity.

"What one does with seemingly damning facts is a matter of judgement. They have to be interpreted and may take on a different aspect when viewed from another angle."

I loved what Mason said about the fallibility of the church and it's leaders. Church culture can be very strong in it's insistence on perfection in it's leaders and organization. I've personally found comfort in realizing that the leaders of the church are no better or worse than myself. They're people who sometimes make mistakes.

"One of the primary reasons why some members of the church have become disenchanted, disappointed, or even angry in recent years is because they were never taught to expect skeletons in the closet of church history and so are shocked when they find them."

"Many of our problems stem from the fact that in the church we have developed an erroneous cultural notion of prophetic infallibility that has its foundation neither in scripture nor in the teachings of the modern prophets themselves."

Mason included this quote by President Lorenzo Snow. I've never heard this quote before but it's most definitely a new favorite for the topic. "I saw Joseph Smith the Prophet do things which I did not approve of; and yet... I thank God that He would put upon a man who had these imperfections the power and authority which He placed upon him... for I knew I myself had weaknesses and I thought there was a chance for me.... I thanked God I saw these imperfections."

I connected with the section about research in the church. I grew up with a strong anti-research vibe. That never settled well with me. I agree with Mason that research need not destroy faith and it's certainly not helpful to imply that it will.

"When certain things are off limits--implicitly or explicitly--then some people will naturally suppose that the church cares more about public image than about truth and the the truth will somehow destabilize the very foundations of the church's claims. That is simply not the case, as attested by the many scholars who are deeply familiar with the hard issues but remain faithful nevertheless."

There was great respect given to those who stay and to those who leave the church. This is the level of respect that is needed from both sides and I hope to see more of it in the coming years.

"The people who choose to stay are not simply naive or blind or victims of false consciousness--any more than those who choose to leave are inherently biased, blinded, or wicked."

Overall, I was really impressed with Mason. When I first started reading this book, I was annoyed that he wasn't a doubter, certain that he wouldn't understand. However, Mason was so helpful in his advice and his compassion. In the end, I loved that faith came easy for him. He mentioned leaning left politically and so I know his journey couldn't always be smooth. But his love for the gospel, the church, and it's people came through strong.

"Mormonism is wonderful in all its swirl of paradox, contradiction, and challenge. Mormonism's whole is greater than the sum of of its parts. It is not docile to either its best or worst features."

It must be noted that this was not a perfect read. I bought a used book. The previous reader was, shall we say, skeptical. Due to previous notations and my own critical thinking, I could see areas where Mason contradicted himself or could have explained something better. I also wish more would have been said about those who struggle with current church issues.

I don't think this would change any minds for those who are firmly against the church. This book doesn't provide clear-cut answers. It provides a jumping off point for those who struggle with doubt and questions. It provides a greater understanding for those who don't.

5 Stars

[Alison LaMarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a niche book for more liberal Mormons. I have been meaning to write a more detailed review as I underlined quite a few things in this book. But I am under the wire for my Goodreads 2022 list. Ha! Anyways, I recommend. Refreshing and validating but not a lot of lightbulb moments. Likely because this stuff has been my wheelhouse for ages. But it is great to have all these ideas in one spot and written by a compassionate and conscientious person. I can gladly lend out my copy.

[Trevor Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our church is struggling to deal with its non-traditional members. Whether they are heretics, disaffected, non-believers, or otherwise non-traditional Mormons, it can be very hard for them to find constructive, safe space in the community. Likewise, traditional Mormons seem uncomfortable and unsure about what to do from their end. Numerous attempts have been made to bridge this gap, and this book is the latest promising effort in this front.

Help for the Traditional

One of the author's principle goals is to help traditional believers, and I feel this book accomplishes that goal about as thoroughly as I can imagine any book doing at this time. I'm genuinely impressed at how thoroughly Mason seems to grasp the variety of causes, symptoms, and feelings involved in a faith transition. And I got the sense that this book could be tremendously helpful for bridging the gap between a traditional believing Mormon and a loved one who falls outside that traditional circle. Whether your calling is Elders Quorum President, parent, brother, spouse, bishop, or apostle, you should seriously consider reading Planted in order to better understand and minister to those on the fringes.

Help for the Church

Another goal the author outlines is his intent to help those on the fringes find more space to happily serve and participate with everyone else. I think we need to seriously push for some dramatic improvement in this department. I wholeheartedly share Mason's desire for a more mature church that is comfortable with its imperfect history and able to have substantive discussions about doubt.

Here are some samples of his views in this regard:

Bringing troublesome matters into the open rather than letting them fester in secret is a positive thing, especially if it is done with forethought, sensitivity, and care. Doing so reveals a confidence that we have nothing to hide and that there is no problem or question so utterly dangerous that we cannot handle it.

How we deal with doubt in the church today is one of the most pressing tests of our collective discipleship.

Doubt dislocates us from our comfortable places. It refuses to let us get spiritually sluggish with the lazy assumption that "All is well in Zion".

Too often we have used religion as a means of building a "wall of partition between us," of introducing "enmity" within the family of God.

If I were to compile a list of all the things my fringe Mormon friends and I wish our traditional counterparts understood about us, this book addresses them all.

Stigmatizing doubt to the point that people feel guilty for even having questions is not conducive to spiritual growth. ... I can strongly assert that the challenges [of doubt] are real and that most of the people who face them are earnest.

While some people choose believe from a range of possible options, and other people choose skepticism from the same menu, there are many people for whom faith or doubt appear more as an unearned inheritance than a personal choice. To be sure, as moral agents we decide what to do with the various givens in our life--but we don't get to choose our givens.

Because of their experiences, some people come to feel that they have no choice but to leave, that the only option with any integrity is to drop out altogether from church activity and perhaps church association of any kind. For some people the church feels toxic, and they can't bear to be present. For others it is not so clear. They are still attracted to many of Mormonism's virtues, even while witnessing or experiencing some of its shortcomings. They genuinely agonize about whether to stay or leave.

Help for the Heretics

Mason also seeks to help those of use who struggle to find a constructive, happy place inside church activity. He spends lots of time suggesting different approaches and perspectives. Since I've been in this game for several years now, I have more than my share of hard-won experience on the "struggle" question, and I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of the vast majority of his advice. It would've saved me from a good deal of grief and many mistakes if I had been able to comprehend and intuit all this stuff years ago.

Just as single example, I love how Mason suggests framing a faith transition as permanent way of life rather than an obstacle to overcome, explaining about a friend, "The searching question, how do I really know? is the essence of his faith life, not its antithesis. The question becomes as important as the answer."

For the most part, Mason deliberately avoids trying to provide any answers to specific questions that provoke doubt in Mormons. Probably the most important idea he presents instead is for heretics is to be "planted" in Jesus.

Wait, though. Isn't that sleight of hand? "Don't worry about all those problems over there that deeply disturb you! Look over here, instead! See? It's Jesus! Yes, just set those other concerns aside."

In my opinion, it's actually a really good move on his part. He generally senses that the real problems lie elsewhere, so to the extent that he feels we should offer apologetics to the marginalized, he suggests pastoral apologetics. I agree with him and the book is much more effective for it. It's not that those problems aren't real and that they shouldn't be fully scrutinized; it's just that providing reasonable answers for them will unlikely change one's feelings towards the church, or perhaps there aren't really any decent answers at all.

What really helps someone get to a healthier spiritual place, then, is focusing on Jesus. Now what that means for each individual will vary, but it's the surest way forward in a church has changed a great deal and will continue to do so (popular rejection of this notion notwithstanding). Jesus is the vine, Mason explains, and everything else is a branch. Even parts of Mormonism that seemed so central and indispensable in the past, like polygamy, were but a branch that was ultimately cut off. This of course leads one to question which branch will be cut next (I know what I'd vote for...).

Even if it seems like the Church emphasizes one branch or another over the vine, we should stay focused in the vine. I know many non-traditional Mormons that thrive on this framing.

Some Minor Flaws

Some of the discussions (for instance, about why Jesus was a scandal in his day) aren't as well rounded as I might hope, but ultimately it doesn't materially detract from the overall thrust of the book. The only real significant misstep was an ill-advised (albeit brief) apologetic attempt explaining Joseph Smith's peep stone, but Mason used it mostly to demonstrate how historical context changes our interpretations rather than to conclusively resolve that issue.

And while the book spends a substantial amount of pages on how to deal constructively with history (the author is, after all, a historian), I wish even more ink had been spilled on dealing with present day struggles, such as women's roles, a creating a real home for LGBT members, etc. To me, at least, this is where the hardest questions lie.

Conclusion

If you're seeking to understand a Mormon family member or friend who doesn't really fit in the church, or if you are the one who doesn't fit in but you really want to try to find a safe, healthy place to belong, I think this book will be helpful. If church is totally toxic or unsafe for you, or you have no desire to associate, I wouldn't recommend it.

I'll close with perhaps the best questions the book asks its readers:

How far are we willing to go to embrace significant social, economic, political, cultural, and ideological diversity? [To what degree] do we want people among us who cannot give the right answers to those interview questions? And what about those who feel the Spirit in our community and want to join with us but cannot embrace some aspect of our teaching, history, or culture?

Disclosure: I was given an advance review copy of this book.

[Brant · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a particularly challenging week of questions and doubts, this book's message was much needed. "The question facing the members of the church is whether we can create a meaningful sense of belonging for those who accept the core precepts and standards of the church but do not conform to the dominant middle-class, white, conservative, American norm. . . . How far are we willing to go to embrace significant social, economic, political, cultural, and ideological diversity? (178). Highly recommend to anyone who doubts.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up front- I really enjoyed this book.

I think Planted is useful in a couple of ways. First, it is useful for those LDS members who find themselves teetering on the edge of a faith crisis, particularly for a crisis involving church history. If you are looking for a way to make things work at church, you will likely find this book very useful.

Second, this book could be helpful for leaders and devout church members to read to gain a better understanding of some of the reasons people doubt and how to best connect with and support them, whether they be family, friends, or ward members. This concept of space-making is one that has always felt important to me, so I appreciated that Patrick included it in his book. I’ll come back to this topic later.

The fact that the book was co-published by Deseret Book may be one of it’s greatest strengths. Deseret Book makes it a “safe” book to read about why people might have doubts, and how to best support them, and Patrick is fairly straight forward and accepting of the facts of doubt- that the pain people experience is real and valid. Because the book says “Deseret Book” on the cover, it’s easy to recommend it to ward members or leaders and not have them resist reading for fear of it containing “anti” material.

I found quite a few quotes that stood out to me. First, is actually a quote from Eugene England, talking about why the Church is as true as the gospel.

"The Church is true because it is concrete, not theoretical…In the life of the true Church, there are constant opportunities for all to serve…especially to learn to serve people we would not normally choose to serve- or possibly even associate with- and thus opportunities to learn to love unconditionally.”

I have found value in my own church interactions in working with and learning to see the value and strengths in people who I might not otherwise seek out because of our different life views.

"Along the way many of us will have our doubts, our conflicts, our moments of exasperation, and genuine crises of integrity when we seem to be at our limit with this imperfect organization and its less-than-celestial leadership, membership and history. Believing that the church is true and that it transforms me in ways that I sincerely doubt would happen in any other way doesn’t make it much easier- and in fact may make it harder when I expect more and better from an institution I know has done so much to bring me to Christ."

I think this is an important statement, because many of us feel so hurt *precisely because* we feel that a church, led by prophets of God should be ahead of the times when it comes to certain issues, and we are hurt or disillusioned when it is not.

In the next chapter (When Church is Hard), Patrick describes an experience of moving into a new ward and not being given a calling for some time. When he did finally receive a calling, he was told that the bishop had been concerned with giving him a calling because of fears that he might bring his political views to church.

"What troubled me was that the very men who had signed my temple recommend also apparently doubted my fitness for service in the kingdom. I was hurt and left with a feeling I never had before- the impression that this was not really my church…"

I think many of us can identify with this experience, where we want to serve and be part of our ward family, but because others have judged us as dangerous in some way, we are not given the opportunity. Patrick took this experience and used it for his own growth:

"How many times in my own leadership callings had I overlooked someone’s capacity to serve because of some arbitrary set of criteria that said more about me than about them?"

This leads us back to the concept of space-making that I brought up earlier.

"We are marvelous at mobilizing when someone faces challenges to their physical health… Those exact same resources can be brought to bear, though more quietly, for those with doubts… This is the baptismal covenant of every member of the Church of Jesus Christ- “to bear one another burdens, that they may be light;…to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort”.

Patrick encourages those who have solid footing at church, to reach out to those who may be struggling with issues, to make sure there is a space for everyone at church, regardless of doubt or questions. At the round table discussion we talked about how this space-making can go both ways. Just like I want space made for me to question at times, those of us who question need to make room for those who do not question, or who do not question in the same way that we do. Labeling someone a TBM in a derisive way, or scoffing at the way they bear their testimony, though maybe temporarily satisfying, does nothing to strengthen the body of Christ. Perhaps it is time for those of us who can, regardless of our belief, to reach across the aisle and make space for those with whom we disagree, those whom we don’t understand, or feel misunderstood by. Perhaps it’s time for all of us to be okay with loving and serving people who express their belief differently than we do.

[Courtney Fong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should read this book. I had to take my time on this book in order to digest all its goodness.

[Caroline Heeb Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Planted by Patrick Q. Mason- my summary and personal review.

I had been wanting to read this book for awhile, having come recommended by my brother Jordan and Dad. So when it was listed as a book club book, I bought it and committed the time to reading it. I think I had higher expectations for the book though, because the last book I read about doubt and faith was completely uplifting and inspiring (Crucible of Doubt). So this one was a little less so, but still had some great components. I marked many sections of the book that stood out to me.

I loved how it reassured the LDS member that it's ok to have doubts. That it's ok to not be able to say, 'I know' to every LDS belief out there. It's ok to challenge and wonder and feel disturbed by new historical information, as long as we hang onto the vine, Jesus Christ, and not focus so much on these branches. (see page 43)

Chapter 2: Testimonies
He brought to light our rigid culture and expectations of what a Mormon is suppose to be/believe. Loved this quote on page 27: "Given a cosmos defined by infinite variation, we have perhaps been too limited in conceptualizing how people experience God and live religiously- which in LDS parlance we usually collapse into the single term testimony." I had already come to this realization in recent months. Just because the Church is true (has the most truth, but still not all), doesn't mean it's the best Church for everyone. Nor does it mean that everyone in the Church has to believe the same things/same way. He also goes into this at the bottom of page 36 explaining the different variations of how we see God in our lives which in turn build our testimonies in unique non-conforming ways. This leads to another recent realization of mine that "Spirituality is intensely individual, even for members of the same family or the same church." page 39. Salvation is an individual matter. Give your loved ones room to develop at their own pace, wander from the straight and narrow, make their own choices without being judged, because really, there isn't anything I can do about their salvation except love them.

I've struggled with my love for the sense of community the Mormon church provides, but then trying to be a part of the rest of the community in which I live. I feel that I inadvertently push people away from my life that aren't Mormon and it bothers me. So I liked when he said on page 29: "...we should not be ashamed that our religion seeks to hold onto us, as if that gives us some kind of second-class type of faith. Being held onto is what it means to be in a relationship, in society- and humans are ultimately hardwired for relationships and society." It kind of allowed me to see my love for the Church in a different light, one that would allow me to be self-confident in my choice to be so involved Church community amidst my neighborly community. Kind of like a better way to explain why I enjoy my Church community so much to those who I may meet that are not a part of it.

D&C section 1 and the preface to section 1 “outlines 4 charges to his modern-day disciples that suggest how we can bring people to the light.” 1-Speak the name of Christ throughout the world. 2-proclaim his gospel to the ends of the earth. 3- establish his everlasting covenant. 4-that faith also might increase in the earth. page 42. I loved how the LDS religion isn’t just about baptizing people into the church. Yes that is part of it, but speaking the name of Christ and increasing faith throughout the earth is also it’s purpose. That is what I’ve been feeling is the best thing for me to do and it was so great to know that it is right there in the scriptures. I don’t have to be on the baptizing, missionary work path in the traditional sense. I can promote faith in Christ and make sure He really is a part of my verbal life as I speak with others.

Chapter 3: Foolishness and Scandal
It was enlightening to see how the author compared the ‘foolish’ ways of Joseph Smith or the Church to some of the events in the Old Testament. “How can we reasonably expect someone to believe that God is specially working through the Church… when they can readily identify the church’s manifest flaws?…Shouldn’t the church, if it is really God’s and really true, be somehow immune or at least elevated?” (page 51). Read the Old Testament! There are foolish and scandalous events that occur through many of God’s chosen prophets. And remember the people that lived at the time of Jesus had a hard time accepting his new ways too. When we come upon new, life demanding changes it’s hard to just believe. It should challenge us and make us figure things out for ourselves. page 55.

Chapter 4: Unicorns and Rhinoceroses
Page 63 is the section on Treasure seeking then and now. I really appreciated this chapter in how it explained Joseph Smith and his treasure seeking hobby. It explained the history in more detail. It helped me to see that because of this hobby that he was more prepared to believe and accept some gold plates hidden in the ground as real and valuable. It helped explain how the whole ordeal was blown out of proportion by both people against him and his friends who were trying to protect him. It really just made me realize that with more detail and by putting the story in the context of history, it helps one understand and become more settled about doubtful questions that arise.

Page 73: “Even if you don’t particularly care about ambiguity in church history, chances are that someone in your family or ward or circle of friends will. Not everyone needs to be a scholar, but willful ignorance impedes our ability to minister to one another.” This really stood out to me and made me want to continue to be more secure in my beliefs so that I can be taken seriously and respected for continuing to chose this church with all of it’s rocky historical events. He even points out that “the history of the church is basically, if not completely, faith promoting.” (page 83). It’s all about how you approach it.

Chapter 6: In All Patience and Faith
This was another chapter I really enjoyed because he went into detail and resolved some of my doubts about the Blacks Priesthood/Temple Ban. “Catholics teach that the pope is infallible, but nobody believes it. Mormons teach that the prophet is fallible, but nobody believes it.” page 103. It’s so true! And so absurd! All of the sections I marked in this chapter expound on the fallibility of prophets and how God has to allow prophets to have agency too, even when it comes to revelation for the whole Church. He points out that “we have conflated claims of truth with expectations of moral perfection.” page 105. Moral superiority, pride, is not a bi-product, nor does it go hand in hand with truth, but that’s what Mormon culture has done.

Another great point he makes, “Part of the essence of Mormonism is trusting the revelation of other fallible human beings. In a secular age already suffering from a deficit of trust, this is perhaps one of our greatest collective challenges.” page 110. So true! Never knowing really what is a source of truth or what to trust on the internet has woven a huge feeling of doubt into our world!

Page 111 talks about how President Kimball came to accept the revelation he was receiving from God to remove the Blacks Priesthood/Temple Ban. He wasn’t quite ready for the ban to be removed either! Just like the other 10 prophets before him. It’s so hard to put ourselves in their shoes in an age of acceptance.

The title of the chapter is summed up in a paragraph on page 114. Can we exercise patience and faith when we don’t agree with something the Brethren have said or done? Quite the challenge there.

Chapter 7: Abide in the Vine
Such a great reminder that we are not to put our trust in the prophets- we put our trust in Jesus! p. 124-125. Abide in the Vine, not the branches that extend from a fallible lead church. “The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything. It extends the timeline for the achievement of justice, righteousness, and peace, allowing for the arc to stretch well beyond any person’s mortal sojourn.” A great reminder that time continues on and in fact doesn’t exist after this life. Things will be worked out through Christ. “If he can triumph over death, surely the resurrected Lord can handle whatever difficult or disconcerting historical and contemporary issues that come our way.” page 177

The last 3 chapters talk about the Church and embracing it, living with others and working through challenges. I had already come to realize for myself that the Church is the best place for me and my little family because it truly has brought me closer to Christ and having the spirit more in my life. There could be other churches or other ways to accomplish this, but why should I go looking for something different when what I have works for me? “When I lived in the Mormon way I became the kind of man I wanted to be-Richard Bushman”. page 137 Yes! That is how I feel even with all of the doubts in Church history and current issues (LBGT).

He continues to pose the argument from a more logical perspective for "why it matters to be a member of a church and especially this church?” page 139-140. I want to quote a whole paragraph on page 140, but in a nut shell it is saying that theology without the support of a structured church to easily becomes abstract in our day to day lives. Religion needs an intelligent theology and helps us to actually live our beliefs. “Religion is to theology what the art of medicine is to certain of the sciences”.

“The church always exists in culture. That means it will constantly change to respond to contemporary issues, concerns, and conditions…The church is to be a moral critic of society and other social institutions and an exemplar of right behavior.” page 142. I hadn’t really looked at it from that perspective. Such a great point and just one great reason to affiliate oneself with an organized religion.

page 148, “I believe that religion is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable- and that Mormonism is exceptionally good at both.” yes! It is suppose to challenge us.

In the end the book makes us question if we can really make room for others who do not conform to the dominant middle-class, white, conservative, American norm? Can we really get outside of our comfort zones in so many different branches of belief to create a better church or everyone. It truly is a life-long test for us as individuals and as a church as a whole.

[Anna Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith and testimony are not made from the same cookie cutters as some believe they are, nor should they be. Belief and belonging is a struggle for many of us, if not all of us at one time or another. Testimonies come in every shape and size offered from a spec of dust to a tsunami wave and once we realize this and embrace it, our understanding and acceptance of others and ourselves will allow both belief and belonging to coexist together.

For those struggling with tough issues in the church, for those wondering if “hope” is enough, for those wondering if what they bring works.. this book is for you. And really, I would recommend it to pretty much anyone. I was so impressed and inspired by its words.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the two best books I've read on navigating the challenges of living a religious life as a Mormon (Letters to a Young Mormon by Adam Miller being the other -- http://amzn.to/1U7kvDm). Whereas the Crucible of Doubt by Terryl and Fiona Givens (http://amzn.to/25cSBOr) is particularly valuable for helping people to think through contradictions they perceive in Mormon thought, Planted takes a more practical approach that will be helpful for those who are looking for concrete ways to live with the ambiguities of Mormonism. Patrick Mason examines several issues that many Mormons wrestle with intellectually, socially, and doctrinally in a way that is hopeful, but without shying away from asking difficult questions and recognizing where both historical and religious limitations are present. The overarching principle of this book is Christian charity and how to apply this idea to life as a thoughtful, soulful Mormon. Even if you haven't been troubled by any of the issues he covers in this book, reading it will help you to understand why these issues cause problems for some people, and in the process, help you to develop greater charity for others. Highly recommended.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, loved this! So happy that lds authors are writing about inclusivity. Everyone has a place in this church, we need all levels of belief. The LDS church is stronger when we seek to include. I hope books like this banish the phrase, "If you don't like it (believe it), just leave." He quotes other LDS authors I love like the Bushmans, Eugene England, the Givens, etc. Love this new era we are entering!

[Callie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just don't like church books. I thought this one would be different, though. And, to be fair, in many ways it was. It had some good ideas, but most of them I'd figured out for myself or heard from other sources. What I don't like about church books is that they often make you feel guilty, that's true of this one. I am so done with guilt. Unhealthy guilt.

[Cheria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It gave me a different perspective and understanding on how to look at things that I have struggled with and that my friends have struggled with in the LDS religion. Even if you don't struggle this book could help you be more compassionate to those who do.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2015, this book was published two years after the Gospel Topics essays were released, both of which came too late for my own faith crisis and transition. I found it amusing that the author said "I worry about sowing doubt rather than belief" as he brings up many troubling aspects of Mormon doctrine and history. So if you are not well versed in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, multiple First Vision accounts, the excommunication of the September Six, etc. there is an extensive reading list (from faithful perspectives) in the back of the book.

The purpose of this book however, was not to dissect any specific issue (although he does weigh in on a few issues.) Rather, to bridge the gap between the believer and doubter. He advocates for each side listening and understanding one another. "People can have genuine reasons for opting out of the church without being dissolute sinners...At the same time, disbelievers must understand that educated, informed, and sincere people can believe..."

I also appreciated his comments about doubt "Doubt dislocates us from our comfortable places. It asks hard questions of us and forces us to deal with hard issues. It refuses to let us get spiritually sluggish with the lazy assumptions that 'all is well in Zion.'" "Faith and doubt are constant traveling companions."

As much as Mason openly admits the flaws of Mormonism, he has a believing bias. This book is probably not going to convince anyone who has already decided to leave to come back. But there's a lot of encouragement for those on the fence to stay. There is a chapter dedicated to advice about what to do when church is hard and people say factually untrue things over the pulpit. Much of the book addresses the paradoxes of Mormonism including when we disagree with a prophet out of deep-seated and gospel inspired moral conviction: "sustaining another fallible human being as a co-worker with God will sometimes be in creative tension with following our own inner light and personal revelation."

He also urges due diligence on everyone's part to be informed. There is more transparency than ever before, and it's time to own and forgive the mistakes of the past. Sit with others in their grief and understand why they have doubts.

Just the acknowledgement of the pain and anguish of a faith crisis is enough to recommend this book. Recommend to those who don't understand what a faith crisis is or what it feels like to have one. Recommend to those in early stages of a faith crisis to feel validated in their pain, especially if they want to stay in Mormonism.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me think – a lot! I have 5 pages worth of notes - following are a few my favorites from the book:

A faith crisis is “one of the most confounding things that can happen to a person.”

“Facts do not compel us to a certain conclusion. They have to be interpreted and may take on a different aspect when viewed from another angle.”

“What we know is contingent upon human perception and interpretation.”

“There are certain inequities, iniquities, and injustices in this world that no amount of historicizing, contextualizing, or theologizing will satisfy. Some are so devastating that they challenge our faith in humanity and sometimes our faith in the church and even in God.”

“The essence of genuine tolerance, philosopher Martha Nussbaum has recently written, is to realize that rational people can hold beliefs, practice behaviors, and maintain belongings that are alien to our own.”

“We do not have to agree on all matters to be good friends, to love one another, and to feast together at Christ’s table.”

“My deep hope for the community of Saints I love is that we will emulate the Master in accompanying one another in deep, meaningful conversation.”

I am a fan of Patrick Mason because he can have deep, meaningful conversations with people who are very different from him and disagree with him on many things. He can discuss controversial issues/ideas without resorting to ‘othering’ and seems to get and have empathy for people rather than being dismissive.

[Andrew Bonney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book. Patrick Mason is more practical than Terryl Givens and more accessible than James Taylor. He pulls on both of their philosophical conclusions in his analysis of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the struggles of membership, and the need for tolerance and diversity within it. I wouldn’t readily recommend this book to religious persons not specifically within the church, as it’s pretty narrowly focused.

In a lot of ways, Mason articulated thoughts that I’ve had percolating in my mind but never expressed. I especially appreciated the emphasis on respecting the intellect/rationality of believers and the morals/goodness of non-believers.

[Hunter Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really moving essays on the role and possibility of belief, belonging, and faith in our modern world. Might write more thorough review later, but this is a great book. It isn’t perfect—-no books are—-but Mason’s dedication to fostering dialogue on thorny topics is inspiring is so inspiring (and helpful) to me.

[Brittany Hodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this and be patient to the very end. You belong. We all belong.

[Jennifer Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, human, profound, inspiring. I recommend it to any thoughtful seeker wherever they are on their faith journey. It's been such a helpful guide to me in better loving and ministering to people whose journeys look different than mine.

[Amber Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I don’t know if it’s 5 stars, but parts were definitely that many stars. So much of this book spoke to me - it’s like having a conversation with myself.

“Fundamentally, faith is a matter of hope and of trust, not much different than love.”

“Even if we personally spend most of our time consciously rowing in the raft of religion, we recognize that there’s a difference between religion being the raft (as it is in modern times) and religion being the ocean (as it was in premodern times).”

[Emily Muir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good perspectives on challenging issues and times.

[LauraLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book unintentionally shows how quickly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is evolving. I love the authors openness to where each of us are on the path of life and how Jesus Christ can be a part of every aspect, even if we don’t feel we fit the mold.

[Matthew Kern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Planted is another win for the Maxwell Institute. It offers a good perspective for those that find the LDS church challenging. I recently heard someone describe the church as an itchy sweater. It is warm and makes you feel safe, but can be frustrating/irritating at times. Mason offers a good perspective for those that think the Church is Zion and are wondering what is wrong with the nay-sayers and those that are considering leaving and don't feel they have a place. The analysis is well done and he offers many constructive thoughts that should trigger some deep reflection on where the reader stands in the church and where they would like to be. He has great points about what exactly history is and eventually talks about the social highlights and struggles of Mormonism.

His offer is to continue with the LDS faith, in a type of progressive tension where we strive for and talk of ideals while recognizing and working to correct and heal our deficiencies.

Here are a couple quotes that show some of his message.

"In Mormonism we are in the truth business. We’re not afraid of the truth, even when it is inconvenient, even when it challenges what we think we know and understand. Indeed, if we know anything in this church, it’s that God has more to teach us, so long as we don’t plug our ears and think we already know it all. An 1833 revelation declared that “truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come” (D&C 93:24). That might mean that truth never changes, and no doubt some facts—like the existence of God and the resurrection of Christ—are fixed in the cosmos. But at least in this historian’s ear, the revelation also suggests something else—that truth consists of what we know, and worshiping a living God means that what we know will change over time."

Mormonism is wonderful in all its swirl of paradox, contradiction, and challenge. Mormonism’s whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It is not reducible to either its best or worst features. It is a graced community that works out its own salvation in this world and the next. We follow the prophet and listen to our own individual conscience and stumble forward, seeing “through a glass, darkly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We draw deeply from our history and are never bound by it. We are liberated in and from tradition.

[Heath Workman · Rating 3 out of 5]

First let me say that I think that Patrick Mason is a good guy. I think the LDS church would be a really great place if people like him were the dominant voice.

However, when I read his book I can't help but wonder why I don't see a book like this written by Russell M. Nelson or Dallin H. Oaks or any others who are ordained as prophets, seers, and revelators. It's disappointing that LDS leaders are not at the forefront of improving LDS culture.

I also can't help but reflect on the fact that in this book Mason hasn't even begun to scratch the surface of why the LDS church is a toxic experience for me. I mean, in a couple of paragraphs he acknowledges that it is possible for some nonbelievers to have a toxic experience (which is something no LDS general authority has done to my knowledge) but I don't think he really understands, for example, what it is like to honestly believe that the Book of Abraham is obvious fraud and then be subtly berated by the theology at church on Sundays for my "lack of faith." It is truly infuriating to be told that coming to conclusions that are obvious to you makes you bad. Heaven help you if you actually believe and internalize that you are bad because of what you honestly think. That's where the church does its worst damage. I don't think Mason sees this. Either that or he didn't think it was worth discussing in this book.

The real problem is that Mason conflates belief with morality. They are two separate things. Believing the wrong thing doesn't make you bad, it simply makes you mistaken. If I see the world this way, I can see my brothers and sisters at church who believe differently than me in a charitable light. I can disagree with them without thinking they are bad (which I do). Unfortunately, LDS theology does not lead my LDS friends to do the same for me. Sadly, I don't expect this to ever change. After all, Jesus himself states that those who do not believe will be damned. Jesus is the foundation of this mistaken conflation of belief and morality so it would be near impossible for LDS theology to reject this idea.

Mason makes a valiant effort to expand LDS theology into something that can include and satisfy everyone but unfortunately the above facts hamstring his efforts.